Barkbeth Campsite

View prices & book 8.9 21 reviews
A tent on site
A tent on site
Tent and picnic blanket
Campsite
View of the site with skiddaw in the background
View from a tent
View of the site with skiddaw in the background
A tent on site
View from the site
1/50
Tent and picnic blanket
Campsite
View of the site with skiddaw in the background

  • Simple, pop-up site on a farm in the Lake District National Park
  • In the foothills of Skiddaw, 10 minutes' drive from Keswick
  • Dogs and barbecues welcome; half an hour’s walk to the pub
If you’ve been dreaming of a back-to-basics break, a wild-camping adventure or epic hiking excursions in the company of your dog, Barkbeth Campsite might just be the answer to your prayers. Open to the public only for 60 days a year, this quiet site on a working farm in the northern fringes of the Lake District National Park sits within a gently hilly landscape. Turn west and you might catch splendid glimpses of Bassenthwaite Lake; look south and the distinctive silhouette of Skiddaw looms in the distance. (Indeed, you’re in the foothills of Skiddaw here, and a short walk up the farm lane takes you on the direct footpath to the mountain.) When you need a break from these spectacular landscapes, or if you feel like visiting a cosy café or a lively market, the town of Keswick is easily reached via the A591 (10 minutes’ drive). After pitching your tent in the large grassy field (and perhaps after a good long hike), you might want a bite to eat. Stock up on grillables in Keswick, then set up your barbecue on a slate (there’s a supply of these right by the entrance gate). Alternatively, take a half-hour stroll to the pub in Bassenthwaite, where you can sample real ales and home-cooked food in a large beer garden. Amenities have been kept nicely minimal at Barkbeth Farm, to help preserve the peaceful rural vibe. That means pitches have no electricity (don’t forget your torch), but you will have access to a drinking-water tap, portable toilets and a unisex hot-shower cabin, plus a sink for washing up.

Campground type

Tent sites 10
RV sites 2
Open now
Opens July 3
Please note

Admission

  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Dogs

  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.

General

  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Jul 3 to

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Campsite types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCamper sitesRV sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsMobile homes for rentRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
0 dogs

Reviews

8.9

Overall rating from 21 Pitchup.com customers

  • 42%
    10
  • 19%
    9
  • 28%
    8
  • 4%
    7
  • 4%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
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    3
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    2
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    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 4
Lake and/or mountainPeacefulSpectacular scenery

95% would recommend this campground to a friend

95% would stay here again

What customers say

This is a peaceful, well-maintained campsite in a spectacular location, ideal for hiking and exploring the local area. Visitors consistently praise the stunning views and the quiet atmosphere. Facilities are basic but generally clean and functional, including a hot shower and drinking water. Some reviewers noted limitations with the number of toilets and showers, particularly when the site is busy. Parking next to pitches and the allowance of BBQs and campfires are appreciated.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 8/11/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 3
Arrival date (latest first)

Great location for the hills

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 1
 Jennifer B. 1 review

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Great location for walking

Disliked Only 1 shower and 2 toilets. Site can get busy at the weekends

Recommend to friends Visit again

Peaceful, beautiful scenery.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Ruth C. 2 reviews

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Peaceful, beautiful scenery.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great views!

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 6
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 5
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Tom C. 4 reviews

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Great location about 10mins from Keswick. Super views of Bassenwaite lake and the surrounding mountains. Easy to find and a lovely working farm. Surrounded by sheep’s and cows which give it that countryside feel. The site was clean and well maintained.

Disliked On our second night the campsite felt very crowded, people’s pitches felt like they were on top of each other. At times it felt like the shower was locked, for prolonged periods or only open at certain times. My partner waited 1hr and 20mins for someone to come out of the shower, in the end she gave up and the shower was then open 40mins later. Cold water for washing up as well.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thankyou for your review. We're sorry to hear you had a bad experience with the shower. It is only locked when in use by other campers and open all day to use, August is peak season and we do get busy at the weekends, pitches are clearly marked with ample space for everyone to have their own space to pitch up. We are a basic pop up campsite so unfortunately we can't provide hot water from the drinking tap.

Lovely, cute campsite!

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Alex R. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked The views are amazing! It’s clean, showers are good, and the people around were really friendly! Close to bassenthwaite lake, and 2 pubs a short drive away. Keswick only a 10 min drive away. Can park your car right next to your tent on your pitch.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great campsite.No nonsense, essentials only. Well kept beautiful views

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
harry wareham-kirk 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Great views, clean toilets and showers, bench to sit on, slabs for cooking on and fire pit available, close to skiddaw, most importantly didn't skimp out on the toilet paper

Disliked If being picky, no light in shower

Recommend to friends Visit again

It was a quiet site, enjoyed…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked It was a quiet site, enjoyed the cows and the views were nice. The site was well kept and easy to find and access.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site with lovely views, the…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Great site with lovely views, the toilet facilities were clean and we had no issues at all. Decent location for nearby walking/hiking spots. Also only a 20 min walk to the pub :)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Small, pop up campsite that is…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 6
 Melanie D. 9 reviews

Primitive grass RV campsite

Liked Small, pop up campsite that is very basic (as described) but had everything we needed to stay in our campervan. Location is fantastic and the views are amazing. Located well away from any roads, so all you hear is the sheep and fellow campers which is great. Great for 1 or 2 nights stay to explore the lakes. We will be back

Recommend to friends Visit again

How cosy it felt and the…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked How cosy it felt and the views were great

Recommend to friends Visit again

We really enjoyed are stay here…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
 Shauna F. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked We really enjoyed are stay here camping it is basic but has the essentials, it is in a peaceful location with amazing views of skiddaw and or bassenthwaite lake, perfect for the hike up skiddaw. The facilities here are great and well maintained. It’s simple, quick and easy on arrival with clear signage and no check in necessary, farmer Matt came down to say hi and was lovely to talk to. We will definitely be back again!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campground

Campfires allowed

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports

Amenities on park

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Hikers’ paradise Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campground Small (11-25 sites)

Accessibility

Accessible parking at site Level campground, no steep slopes

Nearby leisure

Climbing nearby Cycling nearby Mountain biking nearby

Location

Barkbeth Campsite

Barkbeth Farm

Bassenthwaite

Keswick

Cumbria

England

CA12 4QY

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.67255°N
3.18004°W

Nearest transport

Bus
5.1 mi Bus Station
7.5 mi Gallowbarrow
7.6 mi Fairfield Junior School
Rail
8.5 mi Aspatria Rail Station
10.8 mi Wigton Rail Station
12.9 mi Maryport Rail Station
Ferry
5.4 mi Nichol End (Derwentwater) Ferry Landing
5.6 mi Keswick Ferry Landing
6.4 mi Hawes End Derwentwater Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

With its narrow streets and independent shops, plus spectacular views of the surrounding fells, Keswick (10 minutes’ drive) is well worth a visit. Check out the Derwent Pencil Museum, where you can take a selfie next to an eight-metre long pencil, then head to Friars Crag, a scenic spot on the banks of Derwentwater. Red pandas, zebras and lynx are among the residents at Lake District Wildlife Park (10 minutes’ drive), which is also home to exotic birds like flamingoes and kookaburras. The centre runs interesting animal experiences – from birds of prey sessions, to walks with the alpacas. On a summer’s day, you might fancy a hike that leads you to water. Consider heading to Moss Force Waterfall (half an hour’s drive) or Scale Force Waterfall (35 minutes). Thought to be the highest fall in the Lake District, the latter thunders down a vertical granite wall, while Moss Force descends along a series of rock steps.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Allonby 12.1 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
St Bees 21.3 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Southerness 21.8 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent
Seascale 22.8 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Sandyhills 26 mi Sea N/AN/APoorPoor

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Mirehouse Historic House and Gardens 2.1 mi

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 4.7 mi

Castlerigg Stone Circle 5.8 mi

Ullswater Steamers 13 mi

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens 14.8 mi

National Trust

Wordsworth House and Garden 7.6 mi

Buttermere and Ennerdale 17.1 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 17.4 mi

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 18.5 mi

Townend 21 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Ullock Pike - Longside Edge - Skiddaw 1.2 mi

Dodd Wood under Ullock Pike 2.1 mi

Bassenthwaite Osprey Walk 2.1 mi

Latrigg, Blease and Lonscale 4.6 mi

Newlands Valley 4.9 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in The Lake District and Cumbria?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Barkbeth Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Barkbeth Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Barkbeth Campsite? With its narrow streets and independent shops, plus spectacular views of the surrounding fells, Keswick (10 minutes’ drive) is well worth a visit. Check out the Derwent Pencil Museum, where you can … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Barkbeth Campsite?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  10:30 a.m.
    On-park accommodation
    Arrive:  noon –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  10:30 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Barkbeth Campsite? From $33.77 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.